Production of fuel.



UNITED s'ra rns ATENT FFIGE.

THOMAS PARKER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PRODUCTION OF FUEL.

No Drawing.

of a partially coked fuel of high calorific value which in combustion in an open gi ate shall be practically smokeless and is particularly applicable to the processdescribcd in' the prior application for Patent No.

354319/07. In the distillation of coal for the production of such a smokeless partially coked fuel I have experienceddiliiculty in effecting complete gasification of the coal and in the production of a homogeneous partially coked fuel by reason of the cakiug of the coal near the surface during the process of distillation which causes not only the splitting of the coal and the formation of fissures within it but also prevents the outlet of the gas from within the fuel and thus renders difficult the production of a smokeless partially coked fuel of uniform character and homogeneity. Now according to the present invent-ion I avoid this serious diliiculty by applying heat in the process of distillation according to the prior application for Patent No. 354319/0? gradually and slowly so that the process of distilla 'tion may first take place at the surface of the coal with such efiect as to render the con] atits surface porous and so that thus the process of distillation may then continue by gradual penetration inwardly and that thereby an outlet may be afforded for the liberation of the gases as they are generated within the coal and thus the coal may then be uniformly though partially destructively distilled at :1V final temperature of about 800 I.

It will be understood that the application of heat to the coal in the process is arrested at that stage when illuminating gas ceases to come off and when the presence of hydrogen and nonluminous gas is indicated by the characteristic flame. By thus arresting the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 29, 1907.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 386,088.

process of distillation when practically all the illuminating gas has been driven 0d, a partially coked fuel results which can readily be ignited and which burns freely in an open grate without smoke, its combustion being such as to develop a very high temperature that contributes to this result.

It will be understood that at the commencement of the process the heat applied is slight and that it is very gradually raised so that the whole mass of coal under treatihent may be uniformly heated and the heat is gradually and slowly increased for the purpose stated.

I may employ any suitable means for controlling the application of heat to the fuel. I

It will furthermore be understood that the invention involves the use of the process the subjectanatter of the prior application for Patent No. 354319/07 and that it is also one of the objects of the present invention in addition to obtaining smokeless partially coked fuel, to produce an illuminating gas of high illuminating power as well as othervaluable by-products such as tar, and ammonia which render the process of production of the fuel as hereinbefore described highly economical.

It will be also understood that after the partial destructive distillation has been completed, and for the purpose of cooling the fuel and preventing its combustion in air I employ steam superheated or at normal temperature and pressure as in the process of the prior a phcation referred to.

What I 0 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a process for the destructive distillation of coal the application of heat to the retort charged with the coal to be treated, gradually and slowly, up to a maximum ultimate temperature of 800 F. and the arrestment of the process at the stage when illuminating gases have ceased to be evolved, for

the purpose and substantially as described.

Rrcnano \VILLIAM DAVIES, Gr. Y. NARREN. 

